The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver

The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver

Taylor Greer busts out of rural Kentucky in a '55 Volkswagen with a full tank of gas and two resolutions: don’t get pregnant and don’t stop driving until the car gives out. She’s sharp, spirited, and hungry for a life bigger than her small town. Then, somewhere in the vast, dusty landscape of the Oklahoma plains, her journey swerves. A Cherokee woman, desperate and haunted, leaves a silent, solemn-eyed three-year-old girl named Turtle in Taylor’s passenger seat. Suddenly, Taylor’s quest for independence becomes a crash course in motherhood. Feel the Arizona sun beat down as she lands, broke and bewildered, at Jesus Is Lord Used Tires—a surprisingly gentle sanctuary run by the wise Mattie, a place where Central American refugees find safety and broken cars find new life. Watch Taylor, with her wry humor and fierce heart, learn to navigate this new world of shared responsibility, unexpected friendships, and the profound, terrifying vulnerability of loving a child who’s seen too much. Barbara Kingsolver tenderly charts the growth of an unconventional family, revealing how the most resilient connections can blossom in the unlikeliest soil, much like the hardy bean trees themselves. This is where Taylor Greer's unforgettable story begins.

Why You’ll Love This Book

Barbara Kingsolver’s beloved novel shines with warmth, wit, and an unforgettable cast of characters, especially the spirited Taylor Greer and young Turtle. It’s a heartwarming and beautifully written story about the surprising ways we find family and the quiet strength found in community. Readers will be charmed by Taylor's journey and inspired by this uplifting exploration of resilience, compassion, and belonging.